Pensioner rotting foreign jail accused of being a drugs mule – race against time | World | News
79-year-old Brit ‘caught with 5kg of meth’ in Chile bowls fan from sleepy Somerset village William ‘Bill’ (Image: Daily Mirror)
A British pensioner languishes in a foreign prison as his family and lawyers race against time to secure his release amid concerns for his health. William ‘Billy Boy’ Eastment, who has been detained since May, is said to be in rapidly deteriorating health after suffering repeated bouts of pneumonia while in custody.
The elderly bowl enthusiast, described as a vulnerable grandfather, has been accused of posing as a drug mule after allegedly trying to carry a suitcase containing illegal substances. He denies knowingly taking part in any smuggling operation and insists he was duped by criminals. insider said Mirror: “He is not in good health at all. He is very vulnerable and being in prison makes everything worse. There are serious concerns about how much longer he can last.”
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Authorities allegedly found £200,000 worth of methamphetamine hidden in his luggage (Image: Daily Mirror)
“They are negotiating a shortened hearing and process,” a source said. “Essentially, this is an effort to resolve the case more quickly, given its situation.”
The man was arrested in Chile after authorities found drugs in his luggage and faces serious charges under strict local laws.
Eastment has remained behind bars in Chile’s notorious Santiago 1 Prison, where he has been held since his arrest shortly after arriving by plane from Mexico, where he was held by fraudsters who claimed he was misled into believing he would collect a bounty.
The Welsh-born bowling and fishing enthusiast was detained after authorities allegedly found £200,000 worth of methamphetamine hidden in his luggage.
His legal team claims he was targeted by sophisticated fraudsters who undermined his trust and convinced him he was carrying something completely legitimate.
His condition has reportedly deteriorated sharply since his detention.
“The ideal scenario would be to replace the prison sentence with deportation from Chile,” the source added. “In some cases, this happens. But under Chilean law, this is not an option for drug crimes.”
He is said to be suffering from numerous health problems, and concerns are growing that time is running out to get him out of prison and into proper medical care.
Sources close to the case warned that remaining behind bars was life-threatening and that he was not eligible for treatment under the country’s national health system because he came to the country as a tourist.
Bowl enthusiast said to be in poor health in Santiago prison (Image: Daily Mirror)
Relatives in the UK described him as “naïve” but good-hearted and said he would never knowingly engage in criminal activity.
Eastman told prosecutors that he received emails that he believed were from senior officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and claimed that he was approached by a woman named Carolina while he was staying in Mexico.
Eastment’s lawyer said: “In these emails, a person named Carolina, whose surname he does not remember, informed him that one of his relatives in New Zealand had died and that he had to go to Auckland, New Zealand and sign some documents at a notary public in order to access this person’s inheritance.”
Lawyers are now urgently trying to negotiate a deal that would see him released or removed from prison, but any deal could still leave him stranded abroad under strict conditions.
The case highlights growing concerns about British travelers being unwittingly targeted by international drug gangs looking for couriers.
Campaigners warn that older and isolated individuals are particularly at risk.
Time is ticking for this retiree and his fight for freedom becomes increasingly hopeless.
